A £10million health centre in Thornbury will combine three doctors' surgeries, a mental health centre, outpatient department and community outreach centre into a new modern facility.

NHS chiefs have agreed to put together a business case for a “primary and community care hub” in the town.

Plans are in their early stages now but are being formed as South Gloucestershire looks toward a new future.

According to an outline - or first stage - business plan for the local NHS, “demographic growth, significant numbers of new housing under development and issues with service delivery from the current estate for outpatient and community services” mean services in the area need updating.

It is estimated building the new centre will cost around £10million - not including the land - and there is currently no indication of where it could be based.

Until now several options were on the table, ranging from leaving things as they are to a number of different combinations of services on the site.

The paper, called ‘Outline Business Case for Sustainable Primary Healthcare Service in Thornbury’ was written by out-sourcing company Capita for Bristol, North Somerset an South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (BNSSG CCG), which oversees NHS services in the area.

It says the population of South Gloucestershire is currently 275,000 but is predicted to grow by 20 per cent by 2039, with the biggest increase among pensioners.

“The number of 75 to 84-year-old males is predicted to double, the number of women aged 90 and over is set to triple and the number of males aged 90+ predicted to increase by five and half times," the paper says.

“Thornbury is an area of growth with several housing developments already under construction. It is anticipated that there will be further expansion as South Gloucestershire Council completes its local development plan.”

It would be mean St Mary’s Street Surgery, Streamline Services and Dr Foubisters doctors' surgeries are combined into the hub. The current buildings would likely be sold or rented for other purposes, such as housing or offices.

“The decision to move forward to full business case is an important step forward to deliver sustainable primary and community care for local people and meet future health needs though the development of an enhanced Primary and Community Care Hub,” said David Jarrett, BNSSG CCG’s South Gloucestershire area director.

“The approved preferred option is to develop a new health centre which will bring together the three local Thornbury GP practices, a pharmacy, an outpatient department and mental health and community services in one new development.”